There is a sense of melancholy whenever a neighborhood school closes its doors forever. Communities lose identity with the loss of a beloved and familial, societal hub. Schools are where academic dreams and goals are born. The joy of a new school year and the social circle of friends in a thriving community give students the fresh start for reaching their full potential. Our democracy requires that every child is entitled to a free and public education regardless of their zip code. As cities shrink and the urban core loses population to suburban migration, school districts are faced with empty buildings and fewer students (Bierbaum, 2010). Fewer students in expensive buildings causes less opportunities for students to achieve the American dream. After the pandemic, returning to in-person instruction became a challenge. Urban schools were faced with cutting costs and one solution was closing or consolidating campuses. Urban gentrification or "shrinking cities" pushed school districts to "right size" aging, older facilities with fewer fund dollars (Bierbaum, 2020, p. 450-452). The entire community surrounding the school is affected. Successful schools build communities with thriving businesses, health and social services. Effective schools influence the "geography of opportunity" for urban cities (Tate, 2008, p. 397). Neighborhoods change identity when a school closes. There is a loss of community identity when the heartbeat of a neighborhood school closes its doors for the last time. My case study research explored the lived experiences of families and educators before, during and after the school closures. I chose this research design to explore the effects of school closures on families. I served as the main researcher and I sought individuals who experienced school closure. My research explored the experiences and decisions that families faced during school closure and the effect of school closure in their neighborhoods. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]